Words / C2

ign-uh-MIN-ee-uh-s/ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/

Ignominious means shameful and embarrassing, especially after a public failure: an ignominious defeat. Shameful is everyday; humiliating is close; disgraceful stresses moral blame. Ignominy is the noun. In speech, humiliating or a public shaming is enough. Formal, slightly Victorian. Reserve it for public loss of face, not a quiet private mistake.

Meaning

Shameful and embarrassing, especially after a public failure (formal).

Examples

• “The team suffered an ignominious defeat.”
• “The campaign ended in an ignominious climb-down on the core promise.”
• “An ignominious exit from the group stage is still better copy than a dignified third place.”

Good to know

Publicly shameful (formal). Noun: ignominy. Everyday: humiliating / shameful. Of public failure, not a private slip.

Near in meaning

humiliating

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